Rail-joint.



No. 672,870. Patanted Apr- 23, [90L J. BUUTH.

RAIL JUINT.

(Lpplicltion-fllod Feb. 18, 1901.]

(No Model.)

V UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE.

JAMES BOOTH, OF EAST LIVERPOOL, OHIO.

RAIL-JOINT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 672,870, dated April23, 1901.

Application filed February 18, 1901. Serial No. 47,818. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern. Be it known that I, JAMES BOOTH, a citizenof the United States of America, residing at East Liverpool, in thecounty of Oolumbiana and State of Ohio, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Rail-Joints, of which thefollowing is aspecification, reference being. had therein to the accompanyingdrawings. Y

This invention relates to certain new'and useful improvements inrail-joints, and more particularly to that class of rail-j oints whereinthe l111se ofnuts and bolts is entirely dispensed wit The invention hasfor its object to provide novel means whereby rails are easily joinedapplied to the old style of rail.

. the securing-plate.

together and held firmly and rigidly in position, but allowing for theusual expansion and contraction that is incident to rails of this class.

The invention further aims to construct a rail-joint that will beextremely simple in construction, strong, durable, and highly efficientin its use.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in thenovel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fullydescribed, and specifically pointed out in the claims. 7

In describing the invention in detail reference is had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,and whereinlike numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of myimprovedrail-joint. Fig. 2 is a similar View of a modified form of my'invention,showing the same Fig. 3 is an end view as shown in Fig. 1 of thedrawings. Fig. 4 is a similar view as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.Fig. 5 is a perspective view of Fig. 6 is a perspective View of thewedge. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the key. Fig. 8 is a perspectiveview of the locking-key.

In the drawings the reference-numeral 1 indicates the rails, and 2 'thefish-plates, having side extensions 3 3 formed integral therewith, aspace 4 being formed between said extensions and the top of thefish-plate to receive an inwardly-extending portion 5 of the chair 6,which engages the sides of the fish-- plate and the base of the rail 1,this chair having formed therein an opening 7, a like opening 8 beingformed in the base of the rail. An opening 9 is formed in the side ofthe fish-plate, an opening 10in the inwardlyextending portion 5, and anopening 11 in the extension 3. These openings 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 areadapted to receive a locking-wedge 12. This locking-wedge at its lowerextremity is also formed with an opening 14 to receive a locking-key 15,having split ends 16, which pass through said locking-wedge 12.locking-wedge 17, carrying a head 18 is also arranged in the openings 9,10, and 11-, and is placed adjacent to the wedge 12, forming a lockingmeans. Recesses 18 are formed in the interior sides of the fish plates,which when placed in position are adjacent to the web of the rail. Thereference-numeral 19 indicates a plate having formed therein an opening20, which is placed under the chair to receive the end of thelocking-wedge 12, and the locking-key 15 is placed beneath the underface of the said plate in order to secure the parts more firmly inposition.

The manner of applying my improved railjoint is as follows: The chair isplaced in proper position in the usual manner and the fish-plates thenslid in endwise, the inwardlyextending portion engaging in the recessesand in'closing the fish-plates and lower portion of the base of therail. The wedge 17 is then placed in position, and the wedge 12 is thenplaced through the opening, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, in casethe railjoint is used for new rails having the openings arranged in thebase thereof. The plate is then secured to the lower end of the wedge 12and the key inserted through the opening formed in the wedge. The endsof said locking-wedge are then turned or bent outwardly, so as to form aperfect lock, which will tend to clamp and retain the rails in a rigidposition.

In case it is desired to use myimproved rail- IOO passed throughsuitable openings-formed in the free fish-plate and rail and the freeends of the locking-bolt bent outwardly to firmly hold and retain therail in proper position and prevent the latter from creeping.

In view of the foregoing description the many advantages obtained by theuse of my invention will be readily apparent, and it will be noted thatvarious changes may be made in the details of construction Withoutdeparting from the general spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a rail-joint, the combination with the rails, fish-plates havingoutward extensions, a chair adapted to engage the under face of saidoutward extensions, a locking-wedge passing through suitable openings inthe fish-plate and chair, a wedge adapted to engage said locking-wedge,and locking means arranged at the lower portion of said locking-wedge toretain a wedge arranged adjacent to the lockingwedge, all parts beingarranged and operating substantially as herein set forth.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

JAMES BOOTH.

Witnesses:

G. Y. TRAVIS, W. G. DORFF.

